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THE  CORNELL  COLLEGE  BULLETIN-Extra 
Vol.  XVI  No.  I 


RESOLUTIONS 


PASSED  UPON  THE 


RESIGNATION  OF 

•  .'“5 

PRESIDENT  JAMES  ELLIOTT  HARLAN 


JUNE,  1914 


Published  bi-monthly  by  the  College  at  Mount  Vernon,  Iowa.  Entered  as 
second  class  matter  at  the  post  office  at  Mount  Vernon,  Iowa. 


President  James  Elliott  Harlan 


RESOLUTIONS  PASSED  UPON  THE 
RESIGNAION  OF 

PRESIDENT  JAMES  ELLIOTT  HARLAN 


On  June  16th,  shortly  before  noon,  Doctor  Janies  E.  Harlan  read 
to  the  Board  of  Trustees  his  resignation  from  the  presidency  of  Cor¬ 
nell  College,  and  made  clear  that  his  decision  was  final.  The  accept¬ 
ance  of  this  resignation,  which  was  to  sever  close  ties  long  existing, 
was  attended  with  deepest  regret.  Resolutions  expressive  of  this  re¬ 
gret  and  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  Doctor  Harlan  was  held  were 
passed  by  the  Board  of  Trustees,  the  Faculty  and  the  Alumni.  The 
Executive  Committee  at  its  meeting  following  commencement  ordered 
that  these  resolutions  be  published  for  distribution  to  the  alumni  and 
friends  of  the  college.  The  resolutions  recite  so  fully  the  history  of 
Doctor  Harlan's  relation  to  the  college  that  no  further  introduction  is 
here  necessary. 


RESOLUTIONS  PASSED  BY  THE  TRUSTEES. 

The  board  of  trustees  of  Cornell  College,  Mount  Vernon,  Iowa,  in 
annual  session  assembled,  this  17th  day  of  June,  1914,  unanimously 
ordered  the  following  minute  spread  upon  their  records  with  reference 
to  the  resignation  of  Doctor  James  Elliott  Harlan,  as  president  of  the 
institution. 

President  Harlan  has  taken  this  step  absolutely  at  his  own  in¬ 
stance  and  contrary  to  our  wish.  Among  the  numerous  loyal  and 
worthy  graduates  of  Cornell  College,  no  one  has  been  more  honorable, 
or  useful  to  Alma  Mater  than  he. 

When  the  alumni  in  1873  undertook  the  generous  work  of  sup¬ 
porting  a  professor  in  the  college,  they  with  great  unanimity  select¬ 
ed  from  their  number  James  Elliott  Harlan,  who  had  made  a  fine  record 
for  a  number  of  years  immediately  following  graduation  as  superin¬ 
tendent  of  schools  in  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa. 

After  eight  years  of  service  as  professor,  in  1881,  when  the 
trustees  created  the  office  of  vice-president,  they  spontaneously  elect¬ 
ed  him  to  that  position,  which  he  filled  with  great  prudence  and  fidel¬ 
ity  for  twenty-seven  years.  Coupled  with  the  delicate  work  of  admin¬ 
istration,  which  devolved  upon  him  whenever  the  president  was  ab¬ 
sent,  he  filled,  in  conjunction  with  his  teaching,  the  office  of  college 
secretary  with  marked  ability. 

In  1908,  on  the  resignation  of  President  William  F.  King,  the 
trustees  with  one  mind  turned  to  Dr.  Harlan  to  fill  the  place,  and 
this  he  has  done  with  great  skill  and  fidelity. 

As  we  trust  that  President  Harlan  has  a  good  many  years  of  use¬ 
fulness  still  ahead  of  him,  we  earnestly  hope  that  mutually  satisfac- 


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CORNELL  COLLEGE  BULLETIN 


tory  arrangements  may  be  made  to  continue  his  invaluable  services 
in  the  interests  of  the  cause  that  he  has  so  long  and  efficiently  served. 

We  regard  Dr.  Harlan  as  one  of  the  most  beautiful  characters 
that  we  have  had  the  privilege  of  knowing.  His  services  for  the  col¬ 
lege  have  been  above  price.  Wide  as  is  the  circle  of  the  alumni  and 
old  students  of  Cornell  College,  still  wider  is  the  blessed  influence  of 
James  E.  Harlan. 

He  is  a  man  of  high  intellectual  ability,  excellent  judgement,  a 
valuable  counselor,  exceedingly  modest  touching  his  own  ability,  al¬ 
ways  considerate  of  the  feelings  and  interests  of  others,  scrupu 
lously  conscientious,  ever  loyal  to  the  multiform  interests  of  the  col¬ 
lege,  a  very  agreeable  associate  in  the  faculty,  and  a  sympathetic 
friend  of  every  student  however  wayward  or  humble;  in  short,  he  is 
such  a  high  type  of  noble  Christian  teacher  that  we  have  rarely 
known  his  equal.  Among  the  numerous  loyal  and  self- sacrificing 
friends  of  Cornell  college,  none  are  more  worthy  than  President  Har¬ 
lan..  May  a  kind  providence  favor  us  with  the  benediction  of  his 
ennobling  example  and  influence  for  many  years  to  come. 


RESOLUTIONS  PASSED  BY  THE  FACULTY. 

We  have  learned  that  you  have  offered  your  resignation  as  pres¬ 
ident  of  Cornell  College  and  that  you  consider  your  decision  irrevo¬ 
cable.  May  we,  then,  express  something  of  our  appreciation  of  the 
great  work  you  have  done  for  the  college  during  the  forty-one  years 
since  you  entered  her  service  and  something  of  our  deep  regret  at  the 
severance  of  a  companionship  in  labor  which  has  been  to  us  unfail¬ 
ingly  congenial. 

To  the  service  of  the  college  you  were  called  by  the  alumni  when 
they  chose  you  out  of  their  number  as  alumni  professor  of  mathe¬ 
matics.  The  fruitful  years  of  your  instruction,  your  patient  sympa¬ 
thy,  your  success  in  making  difficult  tasks  inspiring,  those  of  us  who 
were  students  in  your  classes  can  never  forget. 

In  1881  you  were  elected  from  among  your  colleagues  in  the  fac¬ 
ulty  as  vice-president  and  were  given  the  administration  of  the  col¬ 
lege  in  its  student  relations.  We  recall  your  deep  concern  for  the 
moral  and  religious  welfare  of  the  students  as  well  as  for  their  in¬ 
tellectual  advancement,  your  unswerving  justice  which  had  no  favor¬ 
ites,  your  unhasting  open-mindedness  before  reaching  a  decision,  and 
unshaken  firmness  after  the  decision  was  once  reached,  your  tact  that 
once  and  again  averted  serious  complications,  your  helpful  friendli¬ 
ness,  your  great-hearted  charity  which  has  inspired  so  many  students 
to  their  best,  during  all  these  years. 

Twenty-one  years  ago,  the  administration  of  the  finances  of  the 
institution  was  also  placed  in  your  hands.  While  we  have  necessarily 
remained  ignorant  of  the  details  of  this  large  business  enterprise,  we 
have  been  the  beneficiaries  of  the  reorganization  of  the  system  of 
accounts  and  of  the  disbursements  and  of  the  wise  investments  of 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars,  from  which  no  penny  has  been  lost. 


CORNELL  COLLEGE  BULLETIN 


5 


In  1908  you  were  elected  president  of  Cornell  College.  The  six 
brief  years  since  that  time  have  seen  important  ichanges  in  the  cur¬ 
riculum,  the  introduction  of  new  courses  of  study,  the  building  and 
equipment  of  the  Alumni  gymnasium,  the  successful  completion  of 
the  campaign  for  $500,000  and  a  continuous  increase  in  the  teaching 
efficiency  of  the  college, — a  record  surely  unsurpassed  in  the  history 
of  the  institution. 

We  remember  your  uninterrupted  courtesy  and  considerateness 
toward  each  of  your  instnctors.  Even  under  differences  of  opinion 
there  never  has  risen  a  suspicion  of  unfairness,  of  selfish  intent,  of 
bias  or  prejudice  or  personal  antagonism.  Your  wisdom  and  sagacity, 
your  singleness  of  heart  with  the  good  of  Cornell  its  one  aim,  your 
magnanimity,  your  integrity,  your  frank  sincerity,  your  buoyancy  of 
spirit  under  heavy  loads,  your  hopefulness  and  unfailing  good  cheer 
have  made  each  of  us  the  better  for  these  associations.  We  reicall  al¬ 
so  the  generous  hospitality  of  your  home  with  the  gracious  presence 
of  Mrs.  Harlan,  the  first  lady  of  our  college  World.  It  is  with  the 
most  sincere  regret  that  we  see  these  closely  woven  ties  now  severed. 

We  congratulate  you  on  the  privilege  which  has  been  yours,  of 
building  your  life  into  this  institution  for  so  many  years.  Whatever 
influence  it  has  exerted  on  its  more  than  ten  thousand  students,  has 
rested  largely  on  your  own  personal  example  of  flawless  integrity,  of 
highest  ideals,  of  noble  manhood. 

You  have,  therefore,  our  profound  appreciation  and  admiration 
in  all  these  relations  and  in  your  achievements  in  the  past.  And  now 
we  assure  you  of  our  heartiest  good  will  and  best  wishes  for  the  fu¬ 
ture.  whatever  may  be  the  nature  of  the  activities  that  shall  engage 
your  powers.. 

RESOLUTIONS  PASSED  BY  THE  ALUMNI. 

President  Harlan  came  to  Cornell  College  as  a  student  in  1863 
and  graduated  in  1869.  Four  years  later  in  1873,  he  was  called  by  the 
alumni  of  the  college  to  the  position  of  the  alumni  professorship,  then 
first  established,  and  filled  that  position  to  the  honor  and  credit  of 
the  alumni  until  elected  president  in  1908.  When  he  was  approached 
by  friends  who  foresaw  that  sentiment  was  strong  that  he  be  the  suic  ■ 
cessor  of  Dr.  King,  he  exacted  a  promise  from  them  that  it  should  not 
be,  if  accepted,  for  a  longer  period  than  the  measure  of  his  seventieth 
birthday.  Carrying  out  that  purpose  formed  when  he  accepted  the  po¬ 
sition  he  now  resigns,  because  before  another  commerucement  that 
period  would  be  reached.  His  administration  as  president  has  been 
remarkably  successful.  During  the  six  years  of  his  incumbency  there 
have  been  raised  by  the  college  in  the  aggregate  more  than  six 
hundred  thousand  dollars,  securing  among  other  advantages,  one  hun¬ 
dred  thousand  dollars  from  the  General  Education  Board  which  will 
be  secured  at  the  date  agreed  upon,  July  31st,  1914.  For  the  first 
time  in  half  a  century  the  report  of  the  president  presented  this  day 
to  the  board  of  trustees  shows  that  the  college  lived  within  its  income 


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CORNELL  COLLEGE  BULLETIN 


during  the  past  year  and  that  there  is  no  deficit,  and  when  settlement 
is  finally  made  with  the  General  Education  Board  there  will  be  some 
surplus  accrued  for  the  benefit  of  the  college. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  for  twenty-five  years  before  he 
became  president  Dr.  Harlan  had  been  vice-president  of  the  college, 
and  had  been  largely  responsible  for,  and  had  directed  the  adminis¬ 
tration.  It  will  be  difficult  to  find,  indeed  there  probably  cannot  be 
found,  in  the  history  of  colleges  in  the  Middle  West,  an  example  of 
greater  fidelity  to  a  great  trust,  greater  sacrifices  in  order  to  main¬ 
tain  that  fidelity,  more  wisdom  and  justice  in  administration,  or  a 
more  exalted  Christian  spirit,  than  has  been  exhibited  by  President 
Harlan  in  the  forty-one  years  that  he  has  been  connected  with  the 
college. 

The  alumni  of  the  college  have  for  him  a  feeling  of  respect,  of 
loyalty  and  of  appreciation  for  his  labors  and  his  sacrifices  which  it 
would  be  difficult  for  them  to  express.  Among  the  members  of  the 
alumni  who  have  at  any  time  been  associated  with  fraternities  this 
feeling  is  as  strong,  as  sincere,  and  as  earnestly  manifested 
as  by  the  other  members  of  the  alumni. 

The  board  of  trustees  will  pass  their  own  resolutions  upon  his 
resignation,  but  it  can  be  said  irrespective  of  that  that  no  president 
of  any  college  has  had  more  constant  and  earnest  and  sympathetic 
support  from  his  board  of  trustees  than  has  President  Harlan. 


Home  of  President  Harlan 


' 


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